Mental Health in Adolescents and Young Adults with Cerebral Palsy
Adolescents and Young Adults (AYA) with Cerebral Palsy (CP) have aspirations similar to those of their peers without CP, but face challenges to physical and mental health, and wellness. In addition to motor impairments, adults with CP may also be affected by chronic pain, fatigue, and depressive symptoms.
As part of the Childhood Cerebral Palsy Integrated Neuroscience Discovery Network (CP-NET), the MyStory study aims to explore the physical health (fatigue and pain), mental health (anxiety and depression), chronic stress, and overall well-being in AYA with CP in Ontario between the ages of 13-30.
CP-NET partnered with the Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy to create this workshop on mental health. This workshop was presented by Dr. Jan Willem Gorter - Director of CanChild and a pediatric rehabilitation medicine specialist at McMaster Children’s Hospital. Dr. Gorter is the Scotiabank Chair in Child Health Research, Professor of Pediatrics, McMaster University and Executive Committee member of CP-NET.
In this workshop, Dr. Gorter discusses the preliminary findings from the MyStory study, explores mental health and wellness in AYA with CP during COVID-19, and provides resources where AYA and families can go for more information and support.
If you have any questions after viewing this workshop, please send them to the Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy (info@ofcp.ca).